Question

Which object has the most potential energy?(1 point)
Responses

a soccer ball rolling across a field
a soccer ball rolling across a field

a person walking down a hallway
a person walking down a hallway

a shovel on the ground
a shovel on the ground

an acorn sitting on a roof

Answer 1

To determine which object has the most potential energy, we need to consider the position and height of each object.

Potential energy is often linked to an object's height above the ground and can be expressed by the formula:
\[ PE = mgh \]
where \( PE \) is potential energy, \( m \) is mass, \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity, and \( h \) is the height above a reference point (e.g., the ground).

Among the options provided:

- **A soccer ball rolling across a field** has kinetic energy, not potential energy due to motion.
- **A person walking down a hallway** is on the move, suggesting kinetic energy rather than potential.
- **A shovel on the ground** has negligible potential energy since it is at ground level (\( h = 0 \)).
- **An acorn sitting on a roof** has potential energy due to its height above ground.

Given this analysis, the **acorn sitting on a roof** has the most potential energy since it is elevated above the ground compared to the other options.